Its About The Gifts

I grew up as a middle-row every Sunday kind of Christian.
Like most church kids, I knew the classic Christmas story forward and back.
The virgin birth.
Son of God.
Wisemen.
Shepards
Manger.
And most importantly, it's NOT ABOUT THE GIFTS.

When I became a mom myself, and I started teaching my kids about Christmas, without even really thinking about it, I continued the mantra that Christmas was not about the presents.

But this year as I watched the news turn from political turmoil and celebrity feuds to stories of Christmas Magic, I realized, it is absolutely about the gifts.
And I believe that's the way Jesus wants it.

Sure there's the classic gifts like presents and money --and those can go a long way in bringing Christmas joy -- but there are the far more important gifts that are given this time of year.
There's the gifts of time spent with those who might otherwise be lonely.
The gift of volunteering for those who need a hand.
The random acts of kindness that always seem to find their way to help heal a heart that's hurting.
The gift of love.

"And the greatest of these is love." I know I'm taking 1 Corinthians a little out of context here, but the greatest gift given during this season is LOVE.
Love for our family. Love for our friends. Love for our fellow man.
God's love for us in the gift of his son.

And what better way to celebrate the birth of our savior than a month where believers and nonbelievers alike come together to give and to brighten the lives of those in need.

Guys, it's absolutely about the gifts.

Comments

To The Person Questioning This Autism Thing

"Autism wasn't a thing in my day." "Doctors just want to diagnose everything these days. Everybody is sick with some made up thing". "A spankin' should knock the 'autism' right out of him." Oh, the things I was told in those early days of getting Wyatt diagnosed. It was probably the most insecure time in my life. I knew the doctors were onto something, but I would listen to these people talk at me and nod my head in silent agreement, and then cry in my car on the way home because of the fear that no one would accept my son for who he was if he didn't fit the cookie cutter mold of All American Boy. I also know this story is the same for just about everyone who's child receives an autism diagnosis. Because of that, a lot of families --ours included-- choose not to talk about the diagnosis. I've finally come to realize that people don't say these things to be malicious or to devalue our children. They say it because they...

Maybe Its Not About Being Unbreakable

My husband and I have been married for 7 amazing, trying, blessed, and chaotic years. We met at a stoplight when we were teenagers, and after falling in love with someone I met in such a fate-type of way, I started to believe we were unbreakable. We were so destined to be together that God timed our lives down to the exact second that a light would turn red and gave both of us the courage to talk to the stranger in the car next to us. I've truly believed that we could face ANYTHING because I had the partner I was meant to have. Maybe it's the 7-year itch; Maybe its postpartum hormones; Maybe it's watching some close friends go through a divorce; But this year, I started to falter in that confidence. I started to wonder if there was such a thing as fate or destiny. Maybe every couple had their breaking point. That fear effectively turned me into a crazy person. I was hell-bent on "fixing us." I listened to podcasts, I read, I took quizzes, and I asked for advic...

You Deserve A Full Cup

"You can't pour from an empty cup, so fill your own first." The words paint such a beautiful picture of how life should be. When you start to feel empty, everything just magically stops so you can "refill your cup." But life doesn't work that way, does it? In fact, it seems that when we need that break to refuel the most, is when there is absolutely no time for yourself. There are chores to be done, sippy cups to fill, butts to wipe, practices to make, dinners to cook, bills to pay, and the very last thing on that list is "fill your own cup." And what does that even mean anyway? How does one fill their metaphorical cup? As women, the formula for success is pretty clear. To be the best version of yourself you need to wear fashionable clothing, have your hair done, drink iced coffee, wax, contour, cardio, drink a gallon of water, avoid sweet treats, yoga, meditate, and substitute all your carbs for cauliflower. Let me tell you, friends, I sp...

Tales Of The Wild Things

Search This Blog